Whistle



, Aug- 25, 1931. R. w. CLIFFQRDl 1,820,558

WHISTLE Filed Oct. 3. 1930 INVENTOR BY er W C/lard,

Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES ROGER W. CLIFFORD, OF ySCHENEXIRADY, NEW YORK WHISTLE Application ied October 3, 1930. Serial No.-486,'113.

This invention relates to operating mechanism for locomotive whistles of the type adapted to be operated either manually or by Huid pressure.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid actuated mechanism for operating the whistle, which can be used with a whistle of the usual manually operated type, and which, while being simple and highly etlicient in operation will be of durable and economical construction, embodying a minimum number of parts.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a specific embodiment oi thevinvention.

d Figure 1, is a partial side view of a locomotive with the invention appliedthereto; Fig. 2, is a vertical section of a whistle having part of the actuating mechanism applied thereto; Fig. 3, is a'horizontal section on the line III- III of Fig. 2; Fig'. 4, is a side elevation of the whistle valve; Fig. 5, is a horizontal section on the line V-V ofFig. 4; and, Fig. 6, is a vertical section ofv the backhead connection ot the actuating mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawings, at the top of the engine boiler 1` a whistle 2 of the usual locomotive type is disposed. The whistle comprises the chime member 3 Jr'ormed of an outer cylindrical shell 4, and an inner cylindrical tube 5, disposed concentrically of the outer shell, the space between the shell and the inner tube being divided into a plurality of chime chambers 6 and 7. At the lower end of the tube 5,'intern al screw threads 8, are cut, by means of which a valveI casing 9, is attached thereto, the casing being closed at its upper end. Integrally formed on the casing 9, is the bowl member 10, and a circular outwardly extending flange 11 is formed on the lower end of the tube having a diameter of such dim'ension as to adapt the same to tit within the top of the bowlflO with suliicient clearance from tghe inner wall of the same to provide an outlet passageway 12 for the steam when blowing' the whistle.

The casing 9 is providedwith'ports 13, within the bowl to permit thefiow of steam therethrough. The' casing extends downwardly and its lower end is fitted into the cylinder 14 by ymeans of the screw threads 15, the end of the casing being formed to provide a valve seat 16. A valve 17,'` the stem of which is 'slidably disposed within the cas ing 9, rests when in closed position, onthe seat 16.

On one side. of the casing 9,r an outwardly projecting hollow extension 18 is formed, in which is disposed a bell crank lever 19, pivoted on a pin 20. The lower arm of the lever projects through the extension 18 in the valve casing 9 into a slot 21 formed in the stem of the valve 17. In the side of the casing 9, a stud 22 is screwed, extending into the slot 21 so as to provide a stop, preventingV the valve from rotating in the casing 9 or from dropping through the casing'when the lever 19 is removed. The bell crank lever 19 is operably connected to the hand control lever 23 in the cab 24 by means ofthe rods 25 and the lever 26.

Coming now tothe features of construe? tion novel to the present invention, the valve 17 is provided with/an eXtension-27, on which is formed head 28. The cylinder 14 is screwed in the plate 29 of the boiler 1 'of the locomotive into which it extends, the plate and cylinder being provided with screw threads 30.

A piston member 31, is disposed in the lower portion of the cylinder 14, and is provided with an upwardly and inwardly eX- tending wall 32, providing a recess 33 into which the enlarged head 28 is introduced through a slot 34 formed l in the upper part of the wall 32 before the same is assembled, whereby the valve is operably connected to. the piston. l

Formed in the sides o the cylinder 14, within the boiler '1, are ports 35 which permit anuninterrupted admission of steam into ther cylinder 14 to exert pressure against the vupper side of the piston 31` and the underside of the valve 17. The under side of the valve 17 is of an area slightly less than the area of the upper side of the piston 31. An annular groove 36 is formed in the outer wallv of the piston 31, and a plurality of'ports 37 formed insaid piston, connect. the groove with the interior of the cylinderbeneath the piston.

Ports 38 are formed in the wall of the cylinder 14 and are adapted to coact with the groove 36, and ports 37 as will be hereinafter described.

h/Iounted in the rear end of the boiler' 1 within the cab 24 is a backhead connection 39 (Figs. 1 and 6). The connection 39 comprises an integral casting having a passage 40 opening into the boiler 1 and which passage is in communication with outlet ports 41 and 42. A pipe 43 connects the lower portion of the cylinder' 14 beneath the piston 31 with the port 41, and a pipe 44 connects the port 42 with the atmosphere. An operating valve 45 of any suitable type is provided in the pipe 44 within the cab 24, to control the iow ot steam through the exhaust pipe 44, the rate of flow of steam through the passage 40 is controlled by means of a regulating screw 46 provided in the connection 39.

In operation, the steam from the boiler' l will pass Yfreely through the ports exerting its pressure on the underside of the valve 17, and the upper side of the piston 31. Vhen the operating valve 45 is in closed position the steam will pass through the passage in the backhead connection 39, and through the pipe 43 into the lower part of the cylinder 14, exerting a balancing pressure against the underside of the piston 31, so that it will exert no force on the enlarged head 28 of the valve, and the same will be held upon its seat 16 by the aforesaid pressure. Upon opening the valve 45, the steam from the passage 40 will tend to exhaust itself through the pipe 44 into the atmosphere,A and the pressure in the lower part of the cylinder 14 will be reduced so that the piston 31 will bev forced downwardly b v the excessive pressure exerted on its upper side; the piston wall 32 being connected with the head 28, the latter will be pulled downwardly with the piston, opening the valveand blowing 'the whistle. As aforesaid the regulating screw 46 will be set to prevent steam frointlowing from the passage 40 faster than the same can be exhausted through the pipe 4 4.

When the operating valve is either wide open or entirely closed, the ports 38are not in line with the annular groove 36 and ports 37. As soon as the valve 17 is open slightly, its tendency is to spring to wide open position, the-groove 36 instantly passing the ports 38. In closing the whistle valve 1"", when the exhaust valve 45 has been shut off, the pressure will again build up within the lower portion of the cylinder 14 at the underside of the piston 31, andthe piston will move gradually upward until. the groove 36 and the ports 38 come in line with each other, whereupon a greater quantity of steam will' be suddenly introduced through the groove and ports into the lower portion of the cylinder and will quickly force the piston 31 and the valve 17 connected thereto upward into closed position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention provides a simple operating valve, the only function of which is to open and close the exhaust passage Jfrom the backhead connection to the atmosphere. This obviates the three way valve ordinarily used to both supply and exhaust the operating fluid. No change is required by the present invention in the construction of the whistle, except the extension 27 and enlarged head 28 on the valve.

While a speciiic embodiment of the present invention has been her-einbetore described, it will be understood that all and any changes and modifications in the details ot construction ot the same which may prove desirable and will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appended claims. The actuating mechanism may of course be used with any whistle ot the iiuid operated type, and the cylinder 14 need not necessarily be disposed within a boiler but may be located in any convenient place outside of the same, and the steam or actuating fluid then being supplied thereto by pipes or other means, instead of directly from the boiler.

It will be apparent that in a whistle where the actuating mechanism et this invention is used, the manual operating mechanism not interfered with, but provides an additional or auxiliary means or" operating thewhistle.

The invention claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is I 1. An actuating mechanism for a steam whistle having an operating valve, comprising means for effectino' an application of fluid pressure in said mechanisin to hold the said valve in closed position, and means for varying the application of said finid pressure to actuate said valve.

2. The combination ot an actuating mechanism .for a steam whistle having an operating valve, comprising means for effecting an application of fluid pressure in said mechanism to hold the valve in closed position, and means for varying the application of said fluid pressure to actuate said valve together with means for manually operating the said valve.

3. An actuating mechanism for a s'; am whistle having an operating valve, comprising a fluid actuated member operably connected to said valve, means to eiiect an application of fluid pressure on said valve to hold the same in `closed position and to effect an application ot' said fluid pressure on the opposite sides of said member to normally maintain the same in a balanced neutral position, and means for varying the application` ot said iluid pressure on one side ot the said memberv gio fis

las

. *las sure on one-sideofthe Vsaid actuating mem-` ber to operate the sameand open and close the said valve, together with means connected with said valve't'o manually operate the sameindependently ofthe said actuated'ine'mber.

v5, Afnrlactuating mechanism for a steam whistle' vhaving an` operating valve, comprisin ga cylinder enclosinor the said valve, a piston Adisposed within said cylinder and operablylconnected with said valve, means for introducing fluid -pressure -intoy said cylinder soas to exert pressure against the saidvalve tonormally holdthe same in closed position andagainst the upperandlower sides of said piston to normally hold the same in neutral closed position, and-meansv to vary thefsaid pressure in the lower portion of said cylinder whereby the said piston will be actuated bythe unbalanced `pressures onv its opposite sides to operate the said valve. v y

6. `An actuating lmechanism for steam whistles having an operating valve, comprising ay cylinder enclosingsaid valve, a piston disposed within said cylinder and operably connected with said valve, the said cylinder having: a port formed therein to permit the introduction of luid pressure to exert pressure against theivalve to normally hold the same in closed position, and againstthe upper side ofsaid piston, and said cylinder having a port formed in the lower part of same adapted to permit the introduction of fluid pressure to. exert pressure against the' underside of said piston to normally hold thesame in balanced closed position, and means for varying the said pressure yon theunders'ide of said piston whereby the same will be actuated by Athe unbalanced pressures tooperate the said valve. f l o V7. An actuating mechanismy for steam whistles having an operating valve, comprising acylin'der enclosing the seat end of said valve, a pistonv disposed within said cylinder and-operably connected with said valve, the said cylinder havinga port formed therein to permitthe introduction of fluid pressure into said cylinder Vto exert pressure against the valve tohold the same in closed position, and

l against the upper side of said piston, and said cylinder'having a second port formedk therein to permit the introduction of fluid pressure torexert. pressure against the underside 'of actuating mechanism. i f f 18. An actuating mechanism yfor a locomosaid piston tonormally hold the same in neu- V'tral yclosed position, means 'for varying the pressure on theVv underside of said piston whereby thesamewill be actuated bythe unbalanced pressures to operate the said valve,

and imeans operatively connected with the `stem of the said valve :adapting th'esamelto be' manually operated independently of said tive whistle having an operating valve, comn prising a cylinder enclosing the seat'endof said valveand extending into the boiler' of the locomotive, a vpiston disposed withinfsaizd cylinder: and operably connected with said valve,the said cylinder having a portformed therein within the said boiler and adapted to permit ythe introductionof steam fromy said boiler'into saidcylinder tofexert pressure against the Valve to hold thesame in closed Y position, and against theupper side yof said Y piston,iandvsaid cylinder having a second port formed therein' in communication withthe lboiler and'normally adapted to permit the flow ofsteamfrom the same to the lowerportion of the cylinder to exert pressure against theunderside of said piston and 'hold the same in balancedgclosed position, and means for exhausting the flowof Vsteam from-the boiierto the last said port to vary the pressure on the underside of said piston whereby, the saine will be actuated by the unbalanced pressures, to operate the said valve. Y

9L Anactuating mechanism for a locomotive whistle having an operating valve, comprising a cylinder enclosing the seat end of said valve and extending'intothe boiler of the locomotive, a piston disposedy within said cylinder rand operably connected with said valve, the said cylinder having a portformed in the same withinl the said boiler to permit the'introduction 'of steam V,from said boiler Vinto said cylinder `to Vexerty pressure againstr `the valve to holdthe same in closed position, and against the upper side of said piston, and

saidocylinder having` a second port formed` therein incommunication with thejboilerto normally permit the flow of'steam fromythe saine 'to the lower `portion of the cylinderto exert pressure yagainst the underside of said piston and hold the same 'in balanced closed position, ymeansior 'exhausting the flow of steam from the-boiler to the last said port to vary the pressure on the underside of said piston whereby the same will be actuated Aby the unbalanced pressures to operate the :said .valve,and means operably connectedwith the lstemof the said whistle operating `valve adapting the same to bemanually controlled independent vof the said piston..

l10. An actuatingv mechanism for steam whistles having an operating valve, comprisfing a 'cylinder enclosing the seatr end Vof said valve, a piston disposed within said'cylindei and' operably connected with saidy valve,

means to permit the introduction of fluid pressure into said cylinder to exert pressure against the valve and normally hold the same in closed position, and against the upper side of said piston, means to permit the introduction of Huid pressure .to exert pressure against the underside of said piston to normally hold the same in a balanced closed position, lmeans for varying the pressure on the underside of said piston whereby the same will be actuated by the unbalanced pressures to make reciprocating strokes to operate the said valve, andmea-ns to permit the sudden introduction of a relatively large quantity of finid pressure during the closing stroke of said piston to quickly return the same to closed position.

11. An actuating mechanism for steam whistles having an operating valve, compris ing a. cylinder enclosingr the said valve, a piston disposed within said cylinder and operably connected with said valve, the said cyl index' having a port formed therein to permit the introduction of fluid pressure into the same to exert pressure against the valve and normally hold the same in closed position, and against the upper side of said piston, a-nd sai-d cylinder having a second port formed therein to permit the introduction of fluid pressure to exert pressure against the underside of said piston to normally hold the same in au balanced closed position, and means for varying the pressure on the underside of said piston whereby the same will be actuated by the unbalanced pressures to make reciprocating strokes to operate the said valve, the said piston and cylinder having coacting ports formed in their respective adjacent sides normally out of line with each other, and adapted when brought into line during the closing stroke of said piston to permit the sudden introduction of a relatively large quantity of fluid to quickly actuate said piston in its said closing stroke.

12. An actuating mechanism for a locomotive whistle having an operating valve, comprising a cylinder enclosing the said valve and extending into the boiler of the locomotive, a piston disposed within said cylinder and operably connected with said valve, the said cylinder having a port formed therein Within the said boiler to permit the introduction of steam from same into the cylinder to exert pressure against the valve and normally hold the same in closed position, and a ainst the upper side of said piston, and .said cylinder havin-g a second port formed therein within said boiler and in communication with the same, to permit the introduction of steam therefrom to the lower part of the cylinder to exert pressure against the underside of said piston to normally hold the same in a balanced closed posi tion, and means for varying the pressure'on the underside of said piston by exhausting the fiow of steam from the boiler to the lower part of the cylinder whereby the piston will be actuated by the unbalanced pressures to make reciprocating strokes to operate the said valve, the said piston and cylinder having coacting ports formed in their respective adjacent walls Within the boiler and normally out of line .with each other, and adapted to be brought into line during the closing stroke of said piston to permit the sudden introduction of a relatively large quantity of -steam from said boiler to quickly actuate said piston in its said closing stroke.

13. A fluid ractuating mechanism for operating a locomotive whistle having an operating valve, comprising alfluid actuated member operably .connected to vsaid valve, a source of fluid pressure, means for effecting the .constant application of the fluid pressure from said source on the underside of said valve to normally hold the same in closed position and on the upper side of said actuating member, connecting elements adapted to deliver fiuid. pressure from said source to the underside of said actuated member to normally maintain the same in a balanced closed position, and means associated with said .connecting elements adapted to exhaust the fluid pressure flowing therethrough from said source, to the atmosphere, whereby the pressure applied to 'ehe underside of the said piston may be Vvaried and the said piston actuated by the consequent unbalanced pressure on its opposite sides, to operate the said valve. Y

14. The combination of a fluid actuating mechanism for operating a locomotive Whistle having an operating valve, lsaid mecha nism comprising a iluid actuated member opcrably connected to said valve, a source of fluid pressure, means for effecting the 4constant application of the fluid pressure from said source on the underside of' said valve to normally hold the same in closed position and on ythe upper' side of said actuating member, conncctingelements adapted to deliver fluid pressure from said source to the underside of said actuated member to normally maintain the same in a balanced closed position, means associated with said connecting elements adapted to exhaust the 'fluid pressure flowing therethrough from said source, to the atmosphere, whereby the pressure applied to the underside of the :said piston may be varied so that the piston will be actuated by the consequent unbalanced pressures `on its opposite sides, to operate the said valve, and connections to said valve adapted to manuallyoperate the same independently of the said actuating mechanism.

15. A fluid actuated mechanism for Aoperating a .steam Whistle having an operating valve, comprising a cylinder mounted yon said whistle surrounding the said valve, a piston disposed in said cylinder and operably con- `ton,

f nected with said valve, asource of-liuid pressure, said cylinder having ports formed therein toadmitthesaidfluid pressure into thefsame to exert pressure` against rthe said valve to normally hold the same in closed 'position and against `the upper side of said pisa connecting element yhav-ing apassageway' in communication` with said source of fluid pressure, connecting means between said element and said cylinder" whereby the said fluid pressure willbe normally delivered from said passageway underside of the said piston to normally hold same in a balanced closed position, and an exhaust connection for said element having a valve associatedy therewith whereby the fluid pressure from the said passageway may be exhausted into the atmosphere to vary the pressure at the underside of said piston and actuate the same by the consequent pressures on its opposite sides to operate the said whistle valve.

16. A fluid actuated mechanism for operating a locomotive whistle having an operatingvalve, comprising a cylinder mounted on said whistle surrounding the r'seat end of said valve, and extending into the boiler ofthe locomotive, a piston disposed in said cylinder and operably connected with said valve, a source of fluid pressure, portsy formed 1n the said cylinder within said boiler to admit the steam from the same into the cylinder to exert pressure against the said valve to normally hold the same in closed posltion and to exert pressure against the upper side of said piston, a connecting element mounted on said boiler having a passageway communicating with the interior of the same, connecting means between said element and said cylinder whereby the said steam will be normally delivered from the said passageway to the cylinder at the underside of the said piston to hold same in a balanced closed p0- sition, and an exhaust connection for said element, having a control valve associated therewith whereby the steam from the said passageway may be exhausted into the atmosphere to vary the pressure at the lunderside of said piston and actuate the same by the consequent pressures on its opposite sides to operate the said whistle valve.

17. A fluid actuated mechanism for operating a locomotive whistle having an operating valve, comprising aV cylinder mounted on said whistle surrounding the seat end of said valve, and extending into the boiler of Y the locomotive, a piston disposed in said cylinder and operably connected with said valve, a source of fluid pressure, said cylinder having ports formed therein within said boiler to admit steam from the'boiler into the cylinder to exert-pressure against the said valve to normally hold the same in closed position and against the upper side of said piston, a connecting element mounted on saidv to the cylinder at the boiler having a passageway-communicating 4with the interiory of theV same, connecting means betweeny said element and rsaid cylinder whereby the said steam will be normally delivered from-'the saidpassageway tothe s cylinder yatthe underside of the said piston to holdsame ina balanced closed'position, y

an,exhanstfconnection for said element .hav-

ing a controlv valve associated Y therewithl whereby .the steam from the said passageway j` mayy be exhausted into they atmosphere to vary the pressure atw'theunderside of` said pistonv and actuate the samevby the consequent pressures on its opposite sides to operate the said whistle valve, and means'formed :1 in the said cylinder and valve to ,permit'the sudden introduction of a'relatively large `quantity of'pressure when the said piston :is operating to close the'valve,to quicklyfreturn the-same to its closed` position. 1 f

18.v ,A fluid kactuated mechanism fory operating a locomotive whistle having an operating valve, comprising a cylinder mountedv on soy said whistle surround-ing the seat` end of said v valve, and extending, into-theboiler of the locomotive, a piston disposedinfsaid cylinder and operably connected'with,said`valve, said cylinder having ports formed therein within saidboiler to admit steam from the said boiler into the cylinder to exert pressure; against 4the f' said valve to normallyhold'the same in closed position and against-the:upper-side of said piston, a connecting element mounted on said boiler having apassageway communicatingwith thefinterior of thefsame,

connecting` meansI between said-element 'and said cylinder whereby the said steamV will be normally'delivered-from the saidfpassa e- Way to the cylinder at thegunderside of t e said piston to hold same ina balanced'closed position, an exhaust connection for saidfelementhaving alcontrol valve associated therewith, whereby thesteamvfrom the. said'passageway may beexhaustedintol the atmosphere to vary vthe pressure atthezunderside of said piston and actuate the sameby the consequent pressures onits'opposite sidesto operate Ithe said whistle valve,and means connecting .with said valveto manually operate -the same independently of the said actuating mechanism, f f

19. Aliuidactuated mechanism for operat` ing a locomotivewhistle having yan operating valve, comprising acylindermounted on-'said lwhistle,surrounding the seat eend Vof said valve, and extending intor the boiler of the locomotive, a piston disposed in said cylinder and operably connected withsaid valve, said cylinder having ports i formed therein, Awithin said boiler-to admitzthe ,steam'fromrthe said boiler in to *the cylinder] to; exert fpressure against the said valve to `normally hold they same in closed position-and against the upper side of said piston, a connecting elementv mounted on said boiler having 4a passageivay communicating with the interior of the same, connecting means between said element and said cylinder whereby the said Steam will be normally delivered from the said passageway to the cylinder at the underside of the said piston to hold same in a balanced closed position, an exhaust connection for said element having a control valve associated 'therewith whereby the steam from the said passageway may be exhausted into the atmosphere to vary the pressure at the underside of said piston and actuate the saine by the consequent pressures on its opposite sides to operate the said Whistle valve, means formed in the said cylinder and valve to permit the sudden introduction of a. relatively large quantity of pressure when the said piston is operating to close the valve, to quickly return the same to its closed position, and means operably connected with the stem of the said Whistle valve adapting the same to be manually operated independently of the said piston.

20. rlhe combination of a locomotive Whistle; a valve for supplying steam for operating the whistle; valve opening and closing means including three faces movable in unison with the valve and in the same direction by the application of fluid under pressure, a first face adapted to be acted upon by the fluid in a valve closing direction, a second face of larger area than the first face adapted to be acted upon by the fluid in a valve opening direction, and a third face adapted to be acted upon by the fluid in a valve closing direction and of sufficient area to ensure normal closing of the valve; and means for reducing the pressure on said third face to effect the opening of the valve.

21. The combination of a locomotive Whistle; a valve for supplying steam, for operating the whistle; valve opening and closing means including three faces movable in unison with the valve and in the same direction by the application of fluid under pressure thereto, one of said faces adapted to be acted upon by the fluid in a valve closing direction, another of said faces adapted to be acted upon by the fluid in a valve opening direclion, and the remaining said face adapted to be acted upon by the fluid in a valve closing direction; means for applying fluid under pressure simultaneously to said three y faces; and' means for varying the pressure of the fluid against at least one of said faces for operating said valve, said faces being of suitable relative areas to insure the maintenance of the valve closed when a fluid of uniform pressure is ap lied to each of the faces and for insuring t e operation of said VValve with said variation of the pressure.

22. An actuating mechanism for a. steam Whistle having an operating valve, comprising a plurality of faces; of varied areas; means for applying fluid under pressure to said faces; Land means for varying the pressure against one of said faces, the areas of said the fluid under pressure is applied uniformly to said faces and to effect thev operation of said valve upon the said variance of pressure.

ROGER W. CLIFFORD. 

